DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER’S SPEECH AT THE GLOBAL BUSINESS SUMMIT ON ENERGY

The Deputy Prime Minister gave a speech on the green economy at the Global Business Summit on Energy on 6 August 2012.

It’s a pleasure to welcome you all to today’s Global Business Summit on Energy. One of a series of events, all timed to coincide with the Olympic Games, the biggest international business conference we have ever held.

Our aim today is to look at what more we can do together, to advance clean, smart energy generation, boosting our shared prosperity, as well as building a more resilient economy, better able to withstand future shocks.

The UK is already the sixth largest market in low carbon and environmental goods and services.

We lead the world in offshore wind – our total installed capacity is as much as the rest of the world put together.

With enviable natural resources, we’re one of the biggest players in marine and tidal energy too.

We offer political stability, legal certainty, the English language.

This is one of the best places in the world to do business – that’s according to the World Bank;

With the best regulatory environment in Europe – that’s according to a recent poll of European utility investors;

As well as some of the world’s best universities and research facilities;
Indeed we produce more Nobel Prize Winners than any other country bar the US.

We are creating the most competitive corporate tax regime in the G7.

Add to that the fact the world’s biggest single market is on our doorstep, despite Europe’s continuing difficulties it’s still home to 500 million consumers, and you have the ideal location to invest your money and grow your businesses: A global powerhouse in the industries you represent.

Despite pressures on other parts of the economy, since the 2008 financial crisis our low carbon sector has grown year on year with growth averaging 4.4%. But we want to do more; we want to seize every opportunity. Last year the sector was worth around £3.3tr worldwide and the race for green global investment is hotting up. The biggest, savviest economies are crowding in – China, Germany, Korea, Brazil. So the UK is upping our game exploiting our competitive edge making the most of our internationally respected brand in order to stay ahead.

Ed will set out some of detail on how the Government is seeking to do that, so I will limit my remarks to our central message to you today. The one thing we want to impress on you above all else: This Coalition Government is unreservedly committed to helping our low carbon sector thrive – no ifs; no buts. And we want to support the shift by traditional industry to cleaner sources of energy – while of course recognising the pressures they face. When we say that we want green growth, that is not flimsy, political rhetoric: It is a very real aim, driven by very real economic needs.

I think it’s important to put that up in lights. The Coalition is sometimes presented, in the press, as if it is riddled with debate and division with regard to greening the economy. That isn’t the case. Yes, there will be internal discussions and debates on the balance and sequencing of different policies – that’s the nature of any government – and energy policies will evolve over time as costs come down. That’s why, for example, we could recently reduce the subsidy for onshore wind. But the entire government is working within the parameters of the carbon budget, which sets the pace for decarbonising our economy. And there is no one in government who wants to depart from that.

We all want an economy rebalanced across industries and regions. We all want to build on our highest growth sectors to create more jobs.

So our challenge is giving you as much certainty as possible – we know that’s what you crave; we know it keeps your costs down. Indeed, it’s the issue raised with me most often by the people in this room. No-one expects an entirely risk-free investment environment, but your companies are embarking on major projects, breaking new ground, building infrastructure intended to last a lifetime, relying on low carbon technologies that involve significant upfront costs. And so, understandably, you place a big premium on predictability. We hear that loud and clear. And there are three overarching ways that we are seeking to provide it.
First – and this applies to all business: We have made macroeconomic stability an absolute priority, because it is an absolute prerequisite for confidence and growth. It is easy to forget that, at the time of the financial crash, the UK had a deficit bigger than Greece. By taking the difficult decisions we pulled our economy back from the brink. We have kept the markets at bay, remaining masters of our own destiny. Interest rates have remained historically low. A quarter of our deficit has now been paid off.

Yes, the road to recovery is long and testing, but make no mistake: if we have to sacrifice short-term political popularity for lasting economic health – so be it. We promised to safeguard economic stability in the national interest. That is what we will continue to do.

Second: consistency from government. So no surprises; no rabbits out of hats. We set out what we’re going to do – then we do it. It sounds obvious, but you all know governments don’t always behave like that.

Clearly our emissions and renewable targets provide an overall policy framework.
And look, for example, at how we take decisions on things like our renewable obligations banding. We review it every four years, like clockwork. So, every four years, we consult with industry on the subsidy levels, we listen to the evidence you provide, and then we set the bands. And because everyone gets a sense of what’s coming, companies can plan and prepare.

That’s why, since announcing the new levels just a few weeks ago, we’ve already seen signs of progress on around £3.5bn worth of investments. Today, for example, shovels will hit the ground in Tees Valley, where Air Products is building a renewable energy plant that will power 55,000 homes and create 700 construction jobs.

It’s true that sometimes we have to take a bit of time to get the detail right – especially on major items like Electricity Market Reform. But our aim is always predictable processes; transparent and inclusive policy-making; decisions that are based on evidence above all else. And, please, let us know how we can do more of that.

Finally: ambition. A willingness to be bold, because we seek nothing less than a clean, green, low carbon economy and the scale of that task demands imagination.

In order to meet this challenge we need to think big.

That’s why the UK’s fourth carbon budget constitutes the boldest emissions reduction target set, in law, by any government, anywhere in the world.

And we have been at the forefront of attempts to secure a more ambitious target across the EU.

We are creating the world’s first Green Investment Bank: A national bank devoted to leveraging billions of pounds for green infrastructure. The Government’s UK Green Investments team has already begun making investments. And I can announce they have just sealed a contract to provide £100m …

So, stability. Consistency. Ambition. The building blocks of our shared prosperity. I hope today reminds you of the value this Government places on your businesses and your ambitions. Together we find ourselves at the vanguard of one of the most dynamic, most innovative, most important industries of our time. An industry that will help us build a more stable, more sustainable, more prosperous world. That’s a vision we can all get behind. This is a journey we are on together. And on that note, let me hand over to Ed.